Gaming & Culture —

Microsoft releases update for HD DVD owners

A new update for the 360 HD DVD player improves capability and sound options, …

The Elite is out, and we're enjoying our HDMI gaming. The Spring update came and VGA-cable users enjoy graphics that are no longer washed-out. Now MS is ready to release an update on the HD DVD-player owners out there in the great wide world. Is it just me or does it seem like someone lit a match under Microsoft's butt to get their media functions improved? Here is what you'll see in the HD DVD update:

Added option for user to select from the following audio output formats via TOSLINK or HDMI:

Some nice updates here; can anyone who owns an HD DVD drive chime in and tell us what, if any, difference these things make in their daily play? In the format war, the name of the game is compatibility and fitting as many bells and whistles into your product as you can so home theater enthusiasts can argue about what feature is most important on gaming sites. The new update should give those discussions more fodder.

Latest Ars Video >

War Stories | Thief: The Dark Project

1998's Thief: The Dark Project was a pioneer for the stealth genre, utilizing light and shadow as essential gameplay mechanics. The very thing that Thief became so well-known for was also the game's biggest development hurdle. Looking Glass Studios founder Paul Neurath recounts the difficulties creating Thief: The Dark Project, and how its AI systems had to be completely rewritten years into development.

War Stories | Thief: The Dark Project

War Stories | Thief: The Dark Project

1998's Thief: The Dark Project was a pioneer for the stealth genre, utilizing light and shadow as essential gameplay mechanics. The very thing that Thief became so well-known for was also the game's biggest development hurdle. Looking Glass Studios founder Paul Neurath recounts the difficulties creating Thief: The Dark Project, and how its AI systems had to be completely rewritten years into development.